Bob White on Dana Frank's NYT op-ed

Mon, 02/13/2012 - 14:41 — AP

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To the New York Times, February 6, 2012:A Diplomat's View on Honduras

In her January 27th op-ed in the New York Times, Dana Frank makes the case that Washington's failure to restore Manuel Zelaya to the presidency weakened constitutional government in Honduras. A comparable argument was made by President Obama when he condemned the 2009 coup against Zelaya, describing it as illegal, and predicting it would set "a terrible precedent" unless reversed.

Instead of using the leverage provided by a unanimous vote of the Organization of American States to restore constitutional government to Honduras, the Department of State fumbled its responsibilities and propped up the coup regime long enough for it to survive and taint the 2009 presidential election.

As a result, Hondurans are now saddled with a feeble president impotent to challenge the impunity of a police force complicit in covering up the murders of many of the country's most honorable citizens, including thirteen journalists who died because they had the courage to investigate links between governmental corruption and prominent business interests.

I applaud Professor Frank for her clear analysis of the tragic situation in Honduras today.

Robert E. White is a former career diplomat has served in Honduras and as ambassador to El Salvador. He is a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy.